Tablet dispensing container with slide closure



Nov. 1, 1955 s, WATERMAN 7 2,722,309

TABLET DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH SLIDE CLOSURE Filed May 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR. NEIL 6. WQTEEMHN TABLET DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH SLIDE CLOSURE Filed May l l, 1953 Now 1, 1955 N. s. WATERMAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIWH I. WW.

7 f 2 4 f I, l f z Z f X V fl/ v f f a 6. K X Z y 7 g 1, W F f w M AM 6 r4 NE S- QTERMQN IN VEN TOR. v/am @W United States Patent Ofiice 2,722,309 Patented Nov. 1,1955

TABLET DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH SLIDE CLOSURE Neil S. Waterman, Stamford, Conn. Application May 11, 1953, Serial No. 354,329

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-42) This invention relates to containers and more particularlyto slide containers of the 'type adapted to contain tablets or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide'a slide container for tablets wherein the slide operates internally.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a slide container for tablets which can be filled with present equipment, the assembly taking place after the filling operation and being capable of being mechanized.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a slide container for tablets comprising a pair of halves adapted to snap together and a flexible internal slide which operates around the corners of the container.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a slide container for tablets bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to assemble and use and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following de tailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a slide container for tablets embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1., but looking at the container from a different side; 7

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and shown partly in elevation;

Fig. 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the parts comprising the invention;

Fig.5 is a plan view of the top half of the container;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bottom half of the container;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 99 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 1010 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 1111 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, in which similar reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a slide container for tablets, referred to collectively as 10, and including a bottom half 11, substantially as illustrated.

The bottom half 11 includes a flat bottom wall 12 of plastic, preferably polystyrene, having rounded corners.

The bottom wall 12 near the periphery thereof is provided with a continuous groove or track 13 extending around three corners thereof as shown in Fig. 6.

Inward of the two curving ends of track 13, the bottom wall 12 is integrally formed with an upwardly extending guard or guide wall 14 for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

The bottom wall 12 is integrally formed with a peripheral, vertically extending side wall 15 continuing around the four corners of bottom wall 12 and having an opening 16 at one corner.

The side wall 15 atone side is provided with an elongated opening 17.

The top edge of wall 15 along its inner side is integrally formed with a continuous upwardly extending ridge 18 alongside the guard or guide wall 14, as shown in Fig. 6, the ridge 18 on the outer face thereof being integrally formed with a continuous bead 19.

The upper edge of side wall 15 is also provided along the inner side thereof with a continuous groove 20, as shown in Fig. 6, extending around the portion of side wall 15 not provided with ridge 18. The inner face of groove 24) is integrally formed with a continuous auxiliary groove 21.

A top half, referred to collectively as 22 is provided, adapted to snap on to the bottom half 11, and including a top wall 23. The top wall 23 is formed of the same material as bottom wall 12, preferably polystyrene, and is identical in size and shape with the bottom wall 12, having rounded corners.

As shown in Fig. 5, the top wall 23 is provided with a continuous groove or track 24 co-terminous with and adapted to overlie the track or groove 13 of the bottom half in vertical alignment therewith. The top wall 23 is integrally formed with a downwardly extending guide wall 25 co-terminous with and adapted to overlie the guide wall 14 provided in bottom half 11.

The top wall 23 is integrally formed with a peripheral, upwardly extending side wall 26 adapted to coincide with the side wall 15 and having an opening 27 aligned with the opening 16 and an elongated opening 28 aligned with the opening 17.

The top edge of peripheral wall 26 alongside the guide wall 25 is provided on the inner side thereof with a con V tinuous recess 29 adapted to receive the ridge 18 of the bottom half 11, the inner face of this groove 29 being provided with a continuous auxiliary groove 30 adapted to receive the continuous bead 19 of ridge 18.

The top edge of side wall 26 is also provided along the inner side thereof with a ridge 31 (see Fig. 11') adapted to be received within the groove 20 of the bottom half 11, the ridge 31 being provided with a continuous head 32 on its outer face adapted to be received with in the continuous auxiliary groove 21 of groove 20 of the bottom half 11. Thus, when the halves 11 and'22 are brought together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they will be retained in engagement with each other by the cooperating ridges and grooves described above.

An elongated flexible slide 33 of plastic, preferably polyethylene, is provided and slides within the cooperating tracks or grooves 13 and 24, the slide 33 being of less length than the tracks 13 and 24.

As shown in Fig. 3, the slide 33 is integrally formed with a knob 34 which slides in the cooperating openings 17 and 28, as will be obvious. By grasping the container 10 between the thumb and fingers, the slide 33 may be moved from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Figs. 1 and 2 by pushing the knob 34 with the index finger until the end of slide 33 completely closes the cooperating openings 16 and 27. Since the slide is of sufiicient length relative to the tracks or grooves 13 and 24, the openings 17 and 28 will at all times be closed, regardless of the position of knob 34'.

Upon returning the knob 34 to the position of Fig. 3, the tablets 35 may be dispensed from the container throughout the cooperating openings 16 and 27.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a three-piece slide container for tablets or the like wherein the slide operates internally, the slide being flexible and operating around the corners of the container.

It should also be apparent that there has been provided a slide container of the above type including a pair of snap fitted halves which can be assembled after the filling operation on present equipment, the assembly being capable of being mechanized.

Moreover, it is to be observed that after the container is exhausted of contents, the top half 22 and bottom half 11 may be snapped apart for refilling, the slide 33 being either removable or remaining in one of the grooves 13 or 24 and between one of the pairs of walls 14-15 or 25-26 respectively. After filling, the parts are snapped together without difficulty because the slide 33 is easily positioned in proper place by reason of the aligned ways formed between guide wall 14 and side wall 16 and the guide wall 25 and the side wall 26.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A separable three-piece container for storing and dispensing tablets or the like, comprising a flat top wall having an integral and peripheral normally depending side wall and a spaced and parallel flat bottom wall having an integral and normally projecting side wall, the outer faces of said side walls lying flush, said side walls being in separable and resilient engagement with each other to form with the top and bottom walls a flat thin case, the side walls of said top and bottom walls at one corner having cooperating openings and at a side thereof having cooperating elongated openings, cooperating and oppositely aligned grooves provided on the inside of said top and bottom walls adjacent said one corner and adjacent said side, a pair of oppositely aligned guide walls each integrally secured to the top and bottom walls respectively adjacent portions of the inner edges of the said grooves and having the outer faces thereof parallel with the adjacent inner face portions of the side walls of said top and bottom walls, said adjacent inner face portions of the side walls being flush, a flexible slide movable in said grooves and guided between the outer faces of the guide walls and said adjacent inner face portions of the said side walls, said slide having an actuating knob secured thereto extending out through said elongated openings whereby said slide may be moved reciprocably in said grooves to open and close said corner openings, cooperating ridges and grooves provided on portions of the side walls of the top and bottom walls whereby to resiliently and disengageably secure said side walls together and secure the slide between said grooves, said guide walls and the adjacent said inner face portions of the side walls.

2. A separable three-piece container for storing and dispensing tablets or the like, comprising a flat top wall having an integral and peripheral normally depending side wall and a spaced and parallel flat bottom wall having an integral and peripheral normally projecting side wall, the outer faces of said side walls lying flush, said side walls being in separable and resilient engagement with each other to form with the top and bottom walls a flat thin case, the side walls of said top and bottom walls at one corner having cooperating openings and at a side having cooperating elongated openings, cooperating and oppositely aligned grooves provided on the inside of said top and bottom walls adjacent said one corner and adjacent said side, a pair of oppositely aligned guide walls each integrally secured to the top and bottom walls respectively adjacent portions of the inner edges of the said grooves and having the outer faces thereof parallel with the adjacent inner face portions of the side walls of said top and bottom walls, said adjacent inner face portions of the side walls being flush, a flexible slide movable in said grooves and guided between the outer faces of the guide walls and said adjacent inner face portions of the said side walls, said slide having an actuating knob secured thereto and extending out through said elongated openings whereby said slide may be moved reciprocably in said grooves to open and close said corner openings, cooperating ridges and grooves provided on portions of the side walls of the top and bottom walls whereby to resiliently and disengageably secure said side walls together and secure the slide between said grooves, said guide walls and the adjacent said inner face portions of the side walls, said top and bottom walls and the respective side and guide walls thereof being integrally formed of relatively rigid plastic and said flexible slide being formed of flexible plastic.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 519,578 Hurlbut May 8, 1894 2,046,869 Burke July 7, 1936 2,131,494 Wilson Sept. 27, 1938 2,555,705 Schafer June 5, 1951 2,606,652 Jaquette et al Aug. 12, 1952 2,627,973 Sines Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,537 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1915 

